State Line Gem & Mineral Society moves 2013.01.16

The State Line Gem and Mineral Society has moved to a downtown location in Morenci.

The organization’s members voted to move from the old depot on Main Street to the vacant building at 201 W. Main St. The building is along the alley leading to city hall and formerly housed Dr. Pulisetty’s office and Jack Smith’s newsstand, among other businesses.

The club was buying the depot on a land contract from the Porter family, but the building will now return to the Porters. A family member said there are no immediate plans for the structure that once served as the depot for the electric train that traveled down Main Street to Toledo.

“We’re hoping it will be a much better location,” said club officer Doris Brzezicki of Adrian. “I think it’s an ideal place. There’s plenty of room for classes and a basement for storage.”

Club members discussed the idea of setting up a gift shop in the building for the sale of items they’ve created.

“We are still in the process of setting up our equipment,” Brzezicki said, “but are looking forward to offering classes in the coming months.”

In addition to classes on lapidary skills—working with stone and gems—club members could teach beading, stained glass work and guest crafters could offer other skills.

Club members met Jan. 6 for the first time in the new facility and elected officers for 2013: president, Ed Jarzembski of Fayette; vice-president, Dennis Avis, of Morenci; secretary, Pat Baier-Hay of Adrian; treasurer, Doris Brzezicki of Adrian; board of directors, Charles Swanson of Sand Creek, Frank Kramic of Morenci and Armando Zamarripa of Napoleon, Ohio.

The group meets at 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month. Guests are always welcome to attend meetings.